Retracting type theater chair



M. K. ORTON RETRACTING TYPE THEATER CHAIR 2 Sheet-Sheet 1 Filed July 26, 1946 n -pw H 00 M m. m MK T April 6, 1948. M, K, ORTON 2,439,370

' RETRACTING TYPE THEATER CHAIR Filed July 26, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Merriif K. Orion and ATTORNE Patented Apr. 6, 1948 RETRACTING TYPE THEATER CHAIR Merritt K. m, Grand Rapids, Mich, assignor to American Seating Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 26, 1946, Serial No. 686,326

2 Claims. (Cl. 155-116) 1 The present invention relates to chairs and more particularly chairs of the retracting type for installation in theaters, auditoriums and the like.

The primary objects of the invention are to provide an improved chair of the retracting type wherein the chair occupant may move rearwardly in a sitting position in order to permit other theater patrons to pass in front of him; to provide such a chair which is of simple construction and which comprises few moving parts; to provide such a chair which may be easily and comfortably retracted and returned to forward position by the chair occupant; and in general to provide a retracting chair which is efficient in operation, rea- "sonab-ly economical in manufacture, and attractive in appearance.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a retracting chair in its forward position of occupancy;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the same taken on line 2-2 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing the right-hand side of the chair;

Figure 4 is a perspective View similar to Figure 1 and showing the chair in its rearwardly retracted position; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 and showing the parts of the chair in their rearwardly moved positions.

Referring now in detail to these drawings, the retracting chair there shown is mounted upon a frame which comprises spaced, upright standards I ll which may be secured to the floor in any suitable manner and which may if desired be rigidly connected by a suitable cross-tie (not shown). As here shown, the only connections between the standards are the chair parts hereinafter described, and the word frame" as herein used is intended to include such an arrangement as well as a unitary structure.

The chair proper is mounted for rearwardly retracting and forwardly returning movements on spaced supporting links I I the lower ends of which are pivotally connected to the standards In respectively. Side plates I2 have their upper ends pivotally connected to the upper ends of the supporting links I I respectively. A chair back I3 has its opposite'sides secured as by means of rivets M to the rear of the side plates I2, and a chair seat I5 is mounted on the lower ends of the side plates l2 as by means of brackets I6 pivotally connected to the side plates. The seat is thus turnable about a horizontal axis to a raised posi- 2 tion for facilitating sweeping and to a lowered position for occupancy, in which latter position the seat is supported by stops I! on the side plates and lugs I8 on the seat brackets I6 which lugs I8 rest on the stops I'I when the seat is lowered for occupancy.

Guide members I9 are provided at opposite sides of the chair for guiding the forward and rearward movements of the seat and back. These guide members I9 are here shown as. generally triangular in shape and are pivotally connected at 20 to the supporting links I I respectively. The guide members have pairs of guide slots therein, the upper or forward guide slots 2| being of cammed formation while the lower or rearward slots 22 are straight and relatively short. Pins 23 on the standards I0 extend into the slots 2|, and other pins 24 on the side plates I2 extend into the slots 22.

Preferably a cross-tie 25 connects the supporting links I I to add to the stability of the structure.

In operation, as the chair is retracted by its occupant the guide members I9 effect a turning movement of the side plates I2 and thus of the chair seat and back also, and the back is thus caused to assume a more nearly vertical position in order to minimize the amount'of space required in the rear of the chair for retraction. This turning movement is effected by the cammed guide slots 2| in their travel over the fixed pins 23 on the standards. Retracting and forwardly returning movements of the chair are stopped by contact of the ends of the cammed slots 2| with the pins 23.

It will thus be seen that a retracting chair has been provided which is simply constructed of but very few parts, and which is sturdy in construction and quiet and smooth in operation. While but one specific embodiment of the invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that many details of construction may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as the same is defined by the following claims. I

I claim:

1. In a chair, a frame, spaced supporting links having their lower ends pivotally associated with the frame, side plates having their upper ends pivotally connected to the upper ends of the supporting links, a chair back and a chair seat mounted on said side plates, guide members pivotally connected to the supporting links and having pairs of guide slots therein, pins on the frame extending into one pair of said guide slots, and

4 7 plates turnably about a horizontal axis, guide members pivotally connected to the supporting links and having pairs of guide slots therein, pins on the frame extending into one pair of said guide slots, and pins on the side plates extending into the other pair of said guide slots.

MERRITT K. ORTON 

